Redknapp tax battle nears end

Tom Morgan
– 07 February 2012 03:33 PM

The judge in Harry Redknapp’s tax evasion trial told the jury that football could have "lost its way" because the sport has become "so commercial."

Tottenham manager Redknapp is accused along with Milan Mandaric, his former chairman at Portsmouth, of concealing £186,000 of transfer bonuses in a Monaco bank account to avoid paying taxes in Britain.

Before sending the jury out to consider verdicts, judge Anthony Leonard told them that football is an “emotive” subject that can stir “deep passions or resentment.”

Despite Redknapp and Mandaric being well-known personalities, Leonard said “there are no special rules you will attach to them as a result.”

Redknapp managed Portsmouth at times from 2002-08. Mandaric’s lawyer said the prosecution was “really flailing” with “paper-thin” explanations for the Monaco payments. “We say the evidence against him is hopelessly weak,” he said.

The first charge of cheating the public revenue alleges that between April 1, 2002 and November 28, 2007 Mandaric paid £91,000 into the account. The second charge for the same offence relates to a sum of £94,000 allegedly paid between May 1, 2004 and November 28, 2007.